Game of Thrones: Second Opinion

Chapter 1 of a new GOT story, modern AU with Ned/Cat as the main pairing, this time however, there is a twist as I plan for both of them to have children, before they've even met each other, anyway, read on for details and enjoy, thank you.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.

Chapter 1

The thirty-six year old auburn haired blue eyed woman sighed as she exited the car. She wasn't alone either, with her were her three children, the first a fifteen year old girl with medium long brown hair, grey eyes and a skinny build, the second was a boy of fourteen with the same hair and eye colour as her; traits also inherited by the third child, a boy of ten.

The woman bit her lip as she observed the somewhat large house before them, their new home. The woman's name was Catelyn Tully; she was the daughter of Hostor Tully, one of the most influential political figures in Westeros. After so many incidents, this was her and her children just moving into this new home.

'A fresh start, a fresh chance...My father and Petyr were practically tripping over themselves to help me out.' She thought sadly. 'It's thanks to them that, amongst other things, I was able to afford this place.'

She looked to her children as the moving vans finally pulled up.

"Well, kids, here we are." She said softly.

The boys nodded and her daughter replied tonelessly. "Yeah, home sweet home."

Catelyn did not blame her, simply replying. "It is now. Okay, Arya..."

Her daughter turned to her and she continued. "Let's go, we need to make sure everything is ready, then we'll look around."

"What about Bran and Rickon?" She asked; gesturing to her brothers, Bran being the older of the two.

Catelyn smiled. "You boys go take a look around just now, we'll join you soon."

"Okay mum." Bran replied, before following Rickon.

Watching them go Cat hoped things would indeed be better here, especially for her children.

Before long everything was unpacked and being put into place; Bran and Arya helped where they could; while Catelyn ensured Rickon, easily the most energetic and rambunctious of her children, didn't get in the way.

"Mum." Arya called out suddenly.

Catelyn hurried over to her. "Yes?"

She was standing by one of the doorways leading to one of the upstairs rooms. It was spacious and offered a pretty good view out the window.

"I think, do you think we could make this my room?" Arya asked at last.

Catelyn smiled and nodded. "That would be fine sweetie."

Arya smiled lightly and they continued. It took less time than they thought and before long everything was unpacked and the rooms all set up, everything in place. They were now just settling in to their new home.

"Mum." Rickon said suddenly. "Can we go explore the house some more?"

She smiled. "Of course dear, just be careful."

Rickon grinned and immediately took off. Bran, grinning at his brother's exuberance, followed him. Arya made to follow but stopped by the living room door, looking back at her mother, biting her lip.

"I'll be fine Arya, go on." She said softly.

Arya nodded and left; leaving Cat sitting in the living room by herself.

'This is is, our new lives, begin here...Better ones surely, after, after what happened.' She thought sadly.

Her mind went back to the past, to the nightmare her life had been, before now.

Fifteen years ago, Cat had been enamoured with and soon married Walder Frey, one of the sons of that family named after its head. He had been kind, sensitive, jovial. It wasn't until the honeymoon his true colours showed and he raped her.

So began a long fifteen years of torment; from the wedding night her daughter Arya had been born. That didn't soften Walder in the slightest and she was little more than a slave to him, he constantly physically and mentally abused her; prevented her from ever getting a job, forcing her to be dependent on him for just about everything.

He also raped her whenever he felt like it, a year after Arya's birth, one of those rapes resulted in Bran being born. It would be four years before her being raped led to another pregnancy however and Rickon was born.

Cat had endured however, for her children's sake, for them to have a stable family unit, so they wouldn't have to bear the stigma of being raised by a single mother.

'But that all changed, Arya, she knew...I don't know when but she knew what he was doing to me.' Cat recalled sadly.

When Arya turned fourteen that was when things became worse. While Cat continued to suffer at her husband's hands, Arya had done her utmost to keep her brother's from finding out, trying to protect them. Then, shortly after Arya's fourteenth birthday, Walder started hitting her too, for even the slightest wrong.

Cat shook her head sadly. 'Yet I never found out, until that time...Arya still tried to shield her brothers; Rickon is still innocent but Bran, he was never hurt but...He knew, somehow he knew what was happening. Then, that happened.'

The 'that' Catelyn referred to was the final straw, it had occurred only a month or so ago. Walder took things too far and Cat had walked in to find him trying to molest Arya. She had intervened, sent Arya upstairs to get her brothers and hide and confronted her husband. He had of course beaten her again, then left the house in a rage.

Catelyn sighed as the memories continued.

'I couldn't take it any more, nothing could justify it, my children were in danger with him. After he left I managed to pull myself together, got my children and we left, we went straight to my father and told him everything...' She paused, recalling that was when she found out about Arya's beatings. 'Now Walder is in jail; the divorce is nearly finalized and we're here...Looking to the future.'

She just prayed her sense of hope would last, especially for the kids, for Arya especially, after the suffering she had also endured. That night, Arya tossed and turned in bed, restless; she had been trying for some time but just couldn't get to sleep.

'It's no good.' She thought sadly. 'I can't stop thinking, about everything that happened, about mum...she's.'

Shaking her head Arya made up her mind and got out of bed. She left the bedroom and began to make her way down the hall to her mother's room.

"Arya."

She turned, surprised, and saw her brother's standing there.

"What, what are you guys doing here?" She gasped.

Bran sighed. "Same as you I guess."

Rickon nodded. "We're worried about mum, we...we thought we would go see her."

"Me too." Arya admitted with a small smile.

So together they made their way to their mother's room.

Catelyn had been lying in bed, praying that she would manage to sleep, that there would be no nightmares this night. She was startled therefore by the door opening. She immediately sat up and saw her children entering.

"Arya, Bran, Rickon, what are you…?"

"We were worried." Bran explained.

Catelyn bit her lip. "Worried?"

"About you, mum." Rickon explained.

Arya nodded and then added. "Could we...could we stay with you tonight."

Catelyn smiled and agreed and so they slept, holding each other, comforting each other through the dark memories and fears.

End of chapter, we are introduced to Cat and her children and learn their unfortunate past, next up we'll meet Ned and his kids, and see the beginnings of a new day for Cat and her family. Read and review please.